Santa Fe players mob starting pitcher Alfredo Ruiz after throwing the final strike and pitching a complete game to win 5-1 over El Rancho at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fe starting pitcher Alfredo Ruiz reacts after throwing the final strike and pitching a complete game to win 5-1 over El Rancho at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

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El Rancho starting pitcher Damian Ureta throws to the plate in the top of the first inning of a prep baseball game against Santa Fe at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fe second baseman Jorge Centeno slides into home to score a run in the fifth inning of a prep baseball game against El Rancho at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

El Rancho head coach Larry Patino looks on in the bottom of the seventh inning of a prep baseball game against Santa Fe at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fe head coach Pierre Romo speaks to his players at the end of a prep baseball game against El Rancho at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fe fans look on in the top of the sixth inning of a prep baseball game against El Rancho at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

El Rancho fan Mark Vela reacts in the bottom of the sixth inning of a prep baseball game against Santa Fe at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

El Rancho’s Davian Valdivia fields the ball for an out in the top of the first inning of a prep baseball game against Santa Fe at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fes Alfredo Ruiz runs to third base in the bottom of the first inning of a prep baseball game at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fe starting pitcher Alfredo Ruiz throws to the plate in the bottom of the first inning of a prep baseball game against El Rancho at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fe’s Raul Ramirez (7) catches the ball at second base to get El Rancho’s Jason Vela (1) out in the bottom of the first inning of a prep baseball game at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fe’s Aaron Echavarria bunts in the top of the second inning of a prep baseball game against El Rancho at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

El Rancho’s Daniel Valles bats in the bottom of the bottom if the third inning of a prep baseball game against Santa Fe at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

El Rancho shortstop Adam Chavez bats in the bottom of the fourth inning of a prep baseball game against Santa Fe at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fe’s catcher Ruben Romero hits the ball in the top of the sixth inning of a prep baseball game against El Rancho at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fe players cheer on their batter in the top if the fifth inning of a prep baseball game against against El Rancho at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fe’s Alfredo Ruiz swings in the bottom of the fifth inning of a prep baseball game against El Rancho at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Fe’s Andrew Vasquez slides into home to score a run in the top of the fifth inning of a prep baseball game at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

El Rancho relief pitcher Ivan Aguilar throws to the plate in the top of the sixth inning of a prep baseball game against Santa Fe at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Fans look on in the bottom of the sixth inning of a prep baseball game between Santa Fe and El Rancho at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. on Tuesday May 8,2018. Santa Fe won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

PICO RIVERA — With the Del Rio League hanging in the balance, Santa Fe baseball coach Pierre Romo gave the ball to a pitcher who has given El Rancho fits the last couple of seasons.He was rewarded handsomely.

Senior Alfredo Ruiz allowed three hits and struck out 13 to lead the Chiefs to a 5-1 win over the host Dons to clinch the Del Rio League championship on Tuesday. It is the third consecutive league title for Santa Fe. It was not lost on Romo who showed genuine emotion to his players after the game.

“This is the first time that Santa Fe has a team that has won three consecutive league championships,” Romo said. “When we won our first championship it was a 23-year gap. Now to win three league championships in a row – it’s a special day.”

Ruiz, a Long Beach State signee, was in total command of his pitches from the start. With several scouts in attendance, El Rancho hitters had trouble catching up to his fastball that was clocked in the mid-90s throughout the day according to several speed guns.

The Dons (16-11, 10-4) didn’t scratch out their first hit until Aaron Garcia’s ground ball single to left field in the fourth inning.

“Alfredo is definitely somebody that guys are definitely are not wanting to hit – he’s a tough guy that other teams know it’s tough to stop him once he gets going,” Romo said of Ruiz’s performance. “We know what we are going to get out of him and we feel comfortable with him on the mound.”

Santa Fe’s offensive prowess showed in the fifth inning against El Rancho’s top pitcher – sophomore Damian Ureta. With the base loaded and one out, second baseman Raul Ramirez laid down a perfectly executed bunt down the third base line that scored Aaron Echavarria for a 1-0 Chiefs lead.

Jorge Centeno gave Santa Fe (20-9, 12-2) a 3-0 advantage when his single to left field scored Ruben Romero and Andrew Vasquez. One pitch later, Eric Espinosa singled to center field that brought in Ramirez and Centeno.

“We were over-matched today,” El Rancho coach Larry Patino said. “(Alfredo Ruiz) is a man playing against boys. We were perfect for four innings and then things got away from us in the fifth. We knew the bunt was coming, but give them credit for executing it at the right time.”

Ruiz, who struck out 14 hitters in last week’s 4-3 lost to La Serna, sealed the game allowing two hits and striking out four. His record improved to 4-0.

“I just have to trust my mechanics, trust my fastball and my off-speed stuff,” Ruiz said. “I knew this team really well and I was confident the entire game. It’s all about trust.”

With the CIF Southern Section playoffs starting next week, Ruiz likes the way his team is performing.

“We’re a good ball club and we trust each other like brothers around here,” Ruiz said when asked about this team. “I’ve known all the seniors on this team since day one and we all talked about winning league our senior year. Since we won back-to-back last year – why not do it again. It’s a pretty sweet feeling.”

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